Catamenial tampons or the like

ABSTRACT

A catamenial tampon comprising an elongated strip of regenerated cellulose sponge material bonded to an outer covering of reinforcing material and compressed and dried to a reduced diameter, said covering being adapted to permit expansion of said sponge material when moistened.

O Unlted States Patent [15] 3,674,030

Jones et al. July 4, 1972 [S4] CATAMENIAL TAMPONS OR THE LIKE [72]Inventors: David Thomas Jones; George Edward [56] References CitedJOWQH, both of Swansea, Glamorgan, UNITED STATES PATENTS Wales; EdwardErnest Webster, Orpington, Kent, England 2,710,007 6/1955 Greiner et al..l28/285 2,926,394 3/1960 Bletzin er et al ..l28/285 [731 Ass'gneeLimmdr Sum)" 2,926,667 3/1960 Burgen lr. etal. ..12s/2ss 3,013,558l2/l96l Leupold ..128/235 [22] Filed: Dec. 11,1970 3,068,867 12/1962Bletzinger et a1. ..l28l285 H PP 97,314 3,291,130 12/1966 Whitehead..l28/285 Primar Exam'ner-Charles F. Rosenbaum RltedU.b.A 0 t on Y eAttorneyHolcombe, Wetherill & Brisebois I63] Continuation of Scr. No.744,5Sl, July 12, I968,

abandoned. 57 BST [30' Foreign Application priority Dam A catamenialtampon comprising an elongated strip of v regenerated cellulose spongematerial bonded to an outer y 1967 Great Br'lam --33,094/67 covering ofreinforcing material and compressed and dried to a reduced diameter,said covering being adapted to permit ex- .S. t t t t t t pansion ofsponge material when moistened [51] lnt.Cl. ..A6lfl3/20 [58] FieldofSearch v.......128/285 5Claims,7DrawingFigures CA'IAMENIAL TAMPONS ORTHE LIKE This application is a continuation of our prior applicationSer. No. 744,55 l filed July 12, 1968, now abandoned.

This invention relates to improvements in catamenial tampons or likedevices for absorbing moisture from body cavi ties, wounds or incisions.

The invention provides a catamenial tampon or like device comprising anabsorbent core of regenerated cellulose sponge material at least partlycovered by a permeable outer covering of reinforcing material bonded tothe surface of the sponge material, the sponge material having beencompressed and dried so that the said core retains transverse dimensionswhich are reduced compared to the transverse dimensions of the spongematerial in the moist relaxed state, and the said permeable outercovering being such as to permit expansion of the said core whenmoistened.

The tampon according to the invention has the advantage that in its dryform it is of reduced dimensions and is comparatively rigid tofacilitate insertion thereof into a body cavity, in most cases withoutthe necessity for the use of a separate applicator, while when moistenedby body fluids it expands to confomi to the body cavity, becoming softand flexible. The reinforcing outer covering prevents breaking up of thesponge core material during subsequent withdrawal of the tampon.

The tampon may be provided with a cord of cotton, nylon or othermaterial, to facilitate withdrawal, the cord being threaded through anaperture pierced in the tampon or being stitched to the said outercovering. The outer covering surface of the sponge serves to distributetension from the withdrawal cord over the material, preventing breakingof the sponge.

The said outer covering advantageously comprises a tube of knitted orwoven fabric bonded to the sponge material during the process ofregenerating the cellulose sponge.

One end of the tampon may be shaped, for example by cutting the spongebefore or after compression, to facilitate insertion into a body cavity.The shaped end may be of arcuate or trapezium shaped profile.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of thetampon may be provided with a lubricant to facilitate insertion into abody cavity, the lubricant being of such a nature that it does notsubstantially impede the absorption of moisture by the tampon norcontains sufficient moisture to expand the sponge material prematurely.Furthermore the tampon may be impregnated with preservatives forreducing attack by bacteria or fungi, medicaments, humidifying agents,deodorants, odor producing substances or substances for increasing thehydrophilic properties of the tampon.

According to a further embodiment of the invention the sponge core ofthe tampon may be so compressed that the relative transverse dimensionsof the sponge core when moistened differ from the relative dimensionswhen dry, preferably being such that the major dimension when wet is atright angles to the major dimensions when dry. For example the tamponmay be of elliptical cross-section when dry, when wet being of greaterelliptical cross-section but having the major transverse dimension atright angles to its major transverse dimension in the dry fonn. Thecross-section when wet may alternatively be rectangular instead ofelliptical. In this case the major dimension of the rectangle is atright angles to the major dimension of the elliptical cross-section ofthe tampon in its dry form.

This embodiment of the invention has the advantage that it furtherfacilitates introduction of the tampon into a body cavity, while thetampon when inserted conforms better to the shape of the body cavity,increasing the security of retention therein and reducing risk ofchannels being formed between the body and the tampon, such as mightcause leakage.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sponge tampon according to theinvention, shown in the moist, relaxed state,

FIG. 2 is a similar view of another embodiment of tampon,

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of a tampon as shown in FIG. 1 or 2 whenin the dry, compressed state, shown in place in an applicator,

FIGS. 40 and 4b are cross-sections of a further embodiment of tampon,shown in the moist state and the dry compressed state respectively, and

FIGS. 5a and 5b are similar views of another embodiment of tampon.

Referring to the drawings, in FIG. I is shown a tampon comprising aregenerated cellulose core 1, in the form of a fine pore spongecontaining reinforcing fibers. The core 1 is of cylindrical shape, andhas intimately bonded to the periphery thereof a tubular reinforcingcover 2 of circularly knitted cotton stockinet. A withdrawal cord 3 isthreaded through a hole 4 pierced in the tampon. The tampon is shown inthe relaxed state, for clarity, this being the form in which the core Iis initially produced, for example by means of the process described andclaimed in British Pat. No.33095/67. In the form prepared for use thetampon is compressed to transverse dimensions substantially smaller thanthose in the moist relaxed state, for example by pressing between heatedshaped platens, or by drawing a continuous length of the sponge materialthrough a tapered heated former, again as described and claimed inBritish Pat. No.33095/67, before it is cut into lengths to form tampons.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of tampon, in which a sponge core 5 isof rectangular shape and is provided with a reinforcing outer cover ofcotton scrim 6 on two opposite longitudinal faces only. A withdrawalcord 7 is threaded through an aperture 8 in the tampon, so that the cord7 passes through the surfaces covered with the cotton scrim 6. A tamponas shown in FIG. 2 can be formed by cutting pieces from a larger slab ofsponge material provided with two opposite scrim covered faces. Thetampons shown in FIG. 2 are also dried and compressed to smallertransverse dimensions when in the form for use. Such compression may beeffected either before or after cutting from the larger slab of spongematerial.

FIG. 3 shows a suitable disposable applicator for a tampon such as shownin FIG. I or 2. The applicator comprises two cylindrical cardboard tubes9 and 10 arranged to slide one within the other. The tampon, compressedto a cylindrical shape, is arranged within the larger diameter tube 9.The adjacent end of the tube 10 is radiused as shown to promoteeffective engagement with the end of the tampon. To insert a tampon intoa body cavity, first the tube 9 is introduced into said cavity, and thenthe tube 10 is collapsed into the tube 9 to eject the tampon. Ifdesired, the leading end of the tampon may project from the tube 9, andmay be cut to a radiused shape to facilitate insertion.

FIG. 4a shows a possible alternative cross-sectional shape for a tamponhaving the general construction shown in FIG. 1. A tampon of this shapeadvantageously has the cross-section shown in FlG.4b when dried andcompressed ready for use, so that the major transverse dimension in thecompressed form is at right angles to the major transverse dimension inthe moist relaxed form.

Likewise, a tampon having the cross sectional shape shown in FIG. 54when moist, for example a tampon as shown in FIG. 2 may have thecross-section shown in FIG. 5b when dried and compressed.

Tampons as described above may advantageously be impregnated with asolution of Cetrimide, during manufacture, so that the dried andcompressed tampon contains 0.1-0.2 percent of Cetrimide by weight. Thisgives an increased wetting rate of the sponge material, and also hasbacteriocidal properties.

What is claimed is:

I. A catamenial tampon having an absorbent body of generally elongatedform constituted by a portion severed from an extruded string ofregenerated cellulose sponge material; said body having bonded to thesurface thereof a permeable outer covering of reinforcing material andhaving been compressed and dried so that its transverse cross-sectionhas dimensions which are smaller than, and in relative ratio differentfrom the corresponding dimensions when the sponge material is moistened,and the outer covering permitting expansion of the sponge material whenmoistened, in which the tampon is elliptical in cross-section when bothwet and dry, but the material occupying its major axis when dry occupiesits minor axis when wet.

2. A catamenial tampon as claimed in claim 1 in which said outercovering is seamless and covers only the longitudinally extendingsurface of said absorbent body.

3 A catamenial tampon having a compressed absorbent body of cylindricalform, constituted by a length of extruded regenerated cellulose spongematerial of the requisite transverse cross-section, with its lateralsurface only covered by a reinforcement consisting of a seamless layerof permeable material bonded to the sponge material, in which the tamponin its compressed state is of non-circular transverse cross-section, andwhen moistened assumes a second expanded noncircular transversecross-section such that the major dimensions of the two transversecrosssections are at right angles.

4. A tampon as claimed in claim 3 in which the permeable materialcomprises a fabric tube.

5. A catamenia] tampon having a compressed absorbent body of cylindricalform, constituted by a length of extruded regenerated cellulose spongematerial of the requisite transverse cross-section, with part of itslateral surface only covered by a reinforcement consisting of a seamlesslayer of permeable material bonded to the sponge material, in which thetampon in its compressed state is of non-circular trans versecross-section, and when moistened assumes a second, expandednon-circular transverse cross-section such that the major dimensions ofthe two transverse cross-secti0ns are at right angles.

1. A catamenial tampon having an absorbent body of generally elongatedform constituted by a portion severed from an extruded string ofregenerated cellulose sponge material; said body having bonded to thesurface thereof a permeable outer covering of reinforcing material andhaving been compressed and dried so that its transverse cross-sectionhas dimensions which are smaller than, and in relative ratio differentfrom the corresponding dimensions when the sponge material is moistened,and the outer covering permitting expansion of the sponge material whenmoistened, in which the tampon is elliptical in cross-section when bothwet and dry, but the material occupying its major axis when dry occupiesits minor axis when wet.
 2. A catamenial tampon as claimed in claim 1 inwhich said outer covering is seamless and covers only the longitudinallyextending surface of said absorbent body.
 3. A catamenial tampon havinga compressed absorbent body of cylindrical form, constituted by a lengthof extruded regenerated cellulose sponge material of the requisitetransverse cross-section, with its lateral surface only covered by areinforcement consisting of a seamless layer of permeable materialbonded to the sponge material, in which the tampon in its compressedstate is of non-circular transverse cross-section, and when moistenedassumes a second, expanded non-circular transverse cross-section suchthat the major dimensions of the two transverse cross-sections are atright angles.
 4. A tampon as claimed in claim 3 in which the permeablematerial comprises a fabric tube.
 5. A catamenial tampon having acompressed absorbent body of cylindrical form, constituted by a lengthof extruded regenerated cellulose sponge material of the requisitetransverse cross-section, with part of its lateral surface only coveredby a reinforcement consisting of a seamless layer of permeable materialbonded to the sponge material, in which the tampon in its compressedstate is of non-circular transverse cross-section, and when moistenedassumes a second, expanded non-circular transverse cross-section suchthat the major dimensions of the two transverse cross-sections are atright angles.